The Piano Mill

Book excerpt: Situated in the remote highlands between Stanthorpe and Tenterfield (NSW), The Piano Mill is a unique architectural feature, homage to the musical history of outback Australia, and an outrageous musical instrument all in one. This new book of photos and essays tells the stories behind The Mill's creation, with personal insights from the team of people involved in bringing it to life. The collaboration of architect Bruce Wolfe, researcher Jocelyn Wolfe, musicians Erik Griswold and Vanessa Tomlinson, The Piano Mill is a nationally awarded building for both music and architecture.In 2016, the building was brought to life with the world première of "All's Grist that Comes to the Mill." The 50-minute work, commissioned from Australian composer Erik Griswold, employs the 16 vintage pianos that power the Mill, incorporating mass sound textures that respond to the architecture, nature-inspired soundscapes, and nostalgic fragments.Yet the Piano Mill is more than a one-off concert venue. It is an on-going project of artistic and cultural synthesis, bringing music, design, environment and history together as a unique collaborative project.